How to Catch a Mouse in My House

Updated on July 15, 2013

Living in the country we do encounter occasional mice in our home. Here are a few of the ways we have used to eliminate them. | Source

There are a variety of methods used to catch mice. Let's face it. Nothing is worse than finding the occasional mouse in the house. We live in the country and our home sits 1/2 mile from the road. We are surrounded by cornfields, brush and woods. We really love it out here. But so do the mice!

Over the years we have tried many different ways to get rid of mice. Some have worked better than others. I am going to share with you 3 of the most common ways for catching mice and the pros and cons of each. Happy hunting!

Old faithful - the spring loaded mouse trap! Works every time! | Source

To get rid of mice, I use:

Option 1: Catch a Mouse with a Spring Loaded Mouse Trap

The old spring loaded mousetrap is probably more famous from cartoon use than for actual mouse catching. There are lots of funny cartoons depicting a cat chasing a mouse and getting caught in a trap! Funny or not, these traps work. But, you do need to know how to use them effectively because mice are very clever.

All spring loaded mousetraps have a small paddle for adding bait. Contrary to popular belief, cheese is not the best bait for catching mice. Bait your traps with a dab of peanut butter.

Another option for baiting your mouse trap is to use a small piece of a nut bound to the trap by thread. The thread should almost completely cover the nut (bait). The purpose of binding the nut to the trap is that it will cause the mouse to push and pull harder at the bait. This is helpful if you find that mice are eating your bait but not causing your traps to spring. As I said, mice are clever.

If you choose to use a spring loaded mouse trap choose a safe location for it and be careful when you set it. Always hold the trap from the end opposite of the bait. This way if the trap springs you will not get hurt. When placing your traps be sure to consider traffic to the area and the safety of small children and pets. Mice caught in this trap will be dead and should be removed from the house immediately.

Recommendation: This is the best and most effective mouse trap I have ever used. It is quick to work and mice don't escape it. I give it 2 thumbs up!

Glue board traps are available in a few different sizes and some have a peanut butter scent to lure mice. | Source

Sticky mouse traps should be placed where mice normally travel. Placing them in corners and along base boards is usually best. | Source

Option 2: Catch a Mouse in Your House with a Glue Board Trap

Safer by far than the spring loaded trap, the glue board is a good alternative. We have used these at times to catch mice. The only real downfall of this trap is that it is also safer for the mice! Mice have landed on these traps in our home but have been able to pull themselves free! We know they have been there because of the fur and droppings left behind. YUCK!

If you choose to use a glue board trap for catching mice, place them along baseboards, in dark closets and anywhere you believe mice are moving about in your home. Be careful not to step on them yourself because they are really sticky.

Another thing about the glue board mouse trap is that the mouse is alive (usually) when caught and needs to be removed from the home in this live state. DOUBLE YUCK! Once outside the mouse can be killed or allowed to die on the trap. YUCK, YUCK, YUCK!

Recommendation: Not the best choice for a mouse trap. Mice can be caught and later escape. But if you have small children, can tolerate removing the mouse from your home while it is live, and don't mind taking a little longer to get rid of your mouse problems it could be for you.

TOMCAT is just one of many brands of mouse bait. | Source

Option 3: Get Rid of Mice with Poison

The last method we have tried to eliminate mice is poison or mouse bait. You can find this in any store where pesticides are sold. There are many different varieties. All of them work essentially the same way.

Mouse bait contains a drug called warfarin. Warfarin is a blood thinner. When the mice eat the bait the warfarin goes to work thinning their blood. Mice then bleed to death internally.

The upside to this method is that mice do like the bait and will carry it back to the nest and can rid your home of entire communities of mice. The downside is that the mice will die wherever they land - under your house, in the walls, in your a/c duct work. The smell of dead mice can linger for 10 days to 2 weeks. Another YUCK!

Be especially careful of where you place mice bait as it is just as harmful to humans and pets. Small children and pets should be kept from it at all times.

Recommendation: Using mouse bait (poison) is going to cause a smell of dead mice that can last up to 2 weeks. If you are using it at a home that you do not live in all of the time, it is probably a good idea. However, it is risky for children and pets. I would not recommend this method due to the risk involved for pets and children and the residual smell. 2 Thumbs Down!

Summary and Review of Common Mouse Traps

Mouse Catching Method

Pros

Cons

Our Rating

Spring loaded mouse trap

Quick and foolproof

Some danger of springing the trap when setting or by accident;mouse is dead when removed

Best

Glue board mouse trap

Safest

Mouse can escape; mouse must be removed from house live; takes longer due to mice escaping

Ok

Mouse bait (poison)

Eliminates full communities of mice

Causes an odor of dead mice that can last up to 2 weeks; dangerous to pets and small children

Comments 4 comments

Ha! Funny, I have a mouse in my house as we speak, so I am going to get a springboard trap tomorrow. Thanks!

Robin 3 years ago from San Francisco

We actually have a rat zapper, which I think is the best way to catch mice. You put a piece of food in the zapper (we use almonds) and the mouse or rat will be electrocuted instantly - no pain, suffering, or poison. We can then throw the mouse out our backyard (we are on a creek) and it's poison free for the critters to eat. :)

kansasyarn 3 years ago from Rural Midwest Author

Great option, Robin. Thanks for sharing!

Ellie 7 months ago

I have cats. They catch any mouse before I realize it's here! They're the best.